Sir David – who steps down as VC of the University of Nottingham on Saturday – will follow in the footsteps of a host of famous Nottingham names including Brian Clough, Carl Froch and Sir Paul Smith.

He will also join other Nottingham University graduate Freemen Sir Peter Mansfield, the physicist whose research lead to the development of the MRI scanner; Dr Stewart Adams, the chemist who developed Ibuprofen; and Sir Colin Campbell, who preceded Sir David as VC.

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The decision to make Sir David a Freeman will be formally confirmed at a special meeting of Nottingham City Council in November. The award is given to “a person of distinction” in recognition of “the eminent service” that they have given to Nottingham. Sir David will become the 39 Honorary Freeman of Nottingham.

This weekend Sir David retires after nine years as VC, during which he has been the driving force behind building successful relationships for Nottingham in China and Malaysia – where the university has campuses – and, more recently, India.

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He also led the development of the Jubilee Campus and the regeneration of other sites – and has been credited with creating new standards of architectural excellence, for example the GSK Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry which opened this year on Triumph Road.

Local politicians and business leaders have praised Sir David for using his national profile and contacts to advocate on behalf of Nottingham, including in his role as Chairman of the Russell Group of Universities and as a member of the National Centre for Universities and Business Leadership Council.

He was key to establishing and developing Nottingham’s Economic Resilience Board which was set up in response to the economic recession and led to the production of the Growth Plan in 2010. He also chairs the city’s Education Improvement Board.

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Sir David moved to Nottingham from Glasgow, with his family, when he was fifteen years old. He met his future wife Lady Susan soon after, when they both had Saturday jobs at the Co-op store on Parliament Street.

After leaving the old Sir Henry Mellish School in Bulwell he moved to Liverpool, to study. But he returned soon after and has been working at the University of Nottingham for the last thirty years.

Sir David and Lady Susan have their home in Nottingham, sent their children to state schools and have contributed to a wide range of community and charitable ventures.

In the last five years, Sir David has raised more than £3m for the university’s Impact charity campaign, through his Life Cycle bike rides. He has said that he was partly inspired to organise the rides after an articulated lorry ran over his pelvis, when he fell off his bike on Trent Bridge.

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The leader of Nottingham City Council Jon Collins, said: “Sir David’s contribution and commitment to Nottingham make him a worthy recipient of the Freeman of the City title. As well as playing a key role in forging connections between Nottingham and other parts of the world, he has helped to steer Nottingham through turbulent economic waters and shaped some significant developments in the city.

“He has also been unstinting in his belief that improving life chances for Nottingham’s children, young people and families can best be achieved through ensuring access to the highest quality education. He has taken an active role in charitable work, raising significant funds for stroke and cancer charities.”

Sir David has already confirmed that he will continue with his role as chairman of the city’s Education Improvement Board, which is trying to raise standards in Nottingham schools.

He said: “This is a deeply and meaningful honour. I am both thrilled and humbled to be recognised in this way. The vitality of our city and its future development is very close to my heart. I will continue to support the many initiatives in place to help make it an ever more supportive and attractive place to be – and to ensure the world knows what a great city we have, and what great people we have.”

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It is understood that plans are in place for the Chancellor of the University of Nottingham Sir Andrew Witty – former chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline – to nominate Sir David as a Freeman, during his admission ceremony.

As a Freeman of the city, Sir David would have the right to graze his cattle in The Meadows or around Mansfield Road, when there is common land. It’s not yet known whether he hopes to take advantage of the opportunity.